Hydrothermal performance of the external wooded frame wall structure reinforced with ballistic panels

Riga Technical University, Department of Heat Engineering and Technology, Riga, Latvia

^* Corresponding author: anatolijs.borodinecs@rtu.lv

Abstract

In recent years construction of bullet resistant walls has become very common not only for military buildings but also for public and residential buildings. The existing wall structure in those buildings is reinforced by ballistic panels. However, in the cold climate regions external application or installation of the ballistic panels can cause interstitial water vapor condensation. Also, an incorrect application of such panel on the internal surface can lead to an insufficient drying of the structure during the summertime. This paper presents an analysis of thermodynamic properties of ballistic panels. For this purpose, laminated and non-laminated ballistic panels were examined. Thermal conductivity features such as water vapor permeability were evaluated in laboratory conditions. Based on gathered results the DELPHIN simulation software and THERM calculation tools were used to analyze the thermal resistance of wooded frame wall reinforced with ballistic panels. The obtained results were validated under controlled environment. Temperature and moisture measurements were performed inside the tested wooded frame structures reinforced by ballistic panels under different internal and external air parameter fluctuations.